Page 90 of Born in Grief

“And would that place bemyfridge?”

“I would like to point out,” Amay retorted. “That you’re eating my eggs.”

“AndI’dlike to point out that the breakfast I cooked is going cold while you idiots bicker.” Virat’s voice was heavy with forced patience. “Dhrithi, join me?”

She left the cradle of Amay’s embrace, a trifle reluctantly, but the lure of that amazing breakfast was too much to ignore. They took their places around the table and for the first time, Dhrithi felt a peace that she’d never known. She’d found love, she’d found friends, and in the process, she’d found a home that welcomed her.

Nothing could make this moment more perfect. Well actually there was one thing. They just had to steal that trophy back first!

THE END

Epilogue

ISHAAN

Ishaan leaned against the bar counter as he took a small sip of his whiskey, his gaze roving the glittery, chattering crowd that comprised of the who’s who of Mumbai. Bollywood, politics, and big business swarmed the room, air kissing each other’s cheeks but making sure they applied their lips to skin when they kissed ass.

Ishaan smirked as his date came up to him, her magnificent cleavage on display in a gorgeous Roberto Cavalli dress.

“Hello darling,” he murmured, allowing her to bestow the customary air kiss. He’d allow her to kiss his ass in private later.

“I’m bored.” Vibha Agarwal didn’t even bother hiding her disdain for the evening as she signalled the bartender for a glass of wine. “When can we leave?”

“In a bit.” He had important work to complete at this party and he needed the cover of his date to do it. Which meant he thought with a heavy sigh, he had to keep her happy. At least for now.Ishaan wrapped an arm around her, bringing her closer and lowering his head to kiss her red, pouting mouth.

“You miserable son of a bitch!”

The abuse spat at him didn’t surprise him but the person doing the abusing did. She stood a few feet away, encapsulated in a rage filled bubble. In a shimmering bronze sheath that clung to her lithe, toned body, her wavy hair brushing her shoulders and cascading down her back, nude lips and dramatic smoky eyes, she was a vision.

And yet, it wasn’t her looks that caught his attention. It was the fire in her eyes as she stared right at him, those beautiful, perfectly done up eyes lasering into him. He could be wrong, which he never truly was, but that looked an awful lot like a woman who hated him. Which was odd since Ishaan didn’t know her. Most people waited to get to know him before they hated him.

Ishaan raised an eyebrow quizzically at her as he straightened, the pouting, buxom beauty in his arms forgotten. He set Vibha aside and squared off with the new entrant.

“Do I know you?”

“I know you, Ishaan Adajania,” the bronze goddess growled. “And that’s all that matters.”

“Well,” he considered that point. “That’s true. You’re clearly not important enough for me to know who you are.”

“I am your worst nightmare,” she hissed, rather melodramatically he thought.

Ishaan looked at her, impressed by the drama. “You are? So, you’re a seven headed kraken risen from the deep?”

She made a strange, very kraken like sound. He could almost believe it was a declaration of war.

“Oh wait!” he exclaimed. “You’re a teenage mutant ninja turtle?”

She stared at him, startled out of her little ‘I hate you’ skit.

“You’re scared of the teenage mutant ninja turtles?” she asked, looking positively flummoxed.

“You’re not?” he demanded. “They’re turtles who know martial arts and can talk. How is that not terrifying?”

For a long moment, she just stared at him, clearly trying to figure out if he was joking or insane. Ishaan wanted to tell her the right choice was always ‘insane’.

“Mayukhi!” The call from somewhere to their right had them both looking at the older man bearing down on them.

Shantanu Chatterjee strode towards them, his fragile combover doing nothing for his oily, bald head. Ishaan’s mouth twisted in distaste as he watched the other man.

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